Gary Lineker sends warning to his three Match of the Day successors - and admits he is unlikely to watch first show since his exit
Lineker has been replaced by a trio of presenters, with Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan to share hosting duties.
According to Lineker, the fact that three individuals have been called upon for the job emphasises how much of a commitment it is.
Lineker told Four Four Two: 'That's probably down to the fact it's a massive commitment.
'Those three have all got families, and if you're saying someone is going to do it for the next 10 or 20 years, then your weekends are gone. That might be it, I don't know. I didn't get involved in any of that. I take it as a compliment that they've named three, but I suspect it's not due to that.'
Lineker has backed the trio to be hugely successful but admitted that he probably won't be watching the first show of the season live.
He said: 'I haven't seen them yet to speak to them, but I will do – they'll be fine and they'll do a great job. I've known them all for years, they're top presenters.
'I'll be watching, but probably on iPlayer… I don't think I'll be watching on Saturday. Maybe the odd time, if I'm in.'
Lineker first presented Match of the Day in 1999 as he replaced Des Lynam. In November last year it was announced that he would depart the show at the end of last season.
Lineker had been due to be part of BBC's coverage of the 2026 World Cup but was axed in May after sharing a social media post which sparked an anti-Semitism row.
Chapman will host this season's first edition of Match of the Day on Saturday night, with Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney as pundits.
Cates, who has extensive experience of working for Sky Sports, confirmed that Lineker hadn't been in contact with any of the new presenters.
'No he hasn't got in touch and I haven't got in touch with him, but not because we're not avoiding each other,' Cates said as part of Sky Sports' launch of the new Premier League season. 'We just don't know each other.
'I know Gary to say hello to (but) we just don't know each other that well. And I think Chappers was saying that Gary said: 'Well, why would I tell three broadcasters how to do their job?' which is very lovely of him because he was brilliant at the job and adored.
'And as much as he was a controversial character at times, any focus group that was researching will tell you how much he was adored in that role.
'So I think from my point of view, the reason not to do it would be, I don't want to be Gary. I think there's a temptation to try and be someone else, and I think that you get a job because of yourself.
'And if then you try to be someone else, it can all just get a bit confused. I don't need another thing to think about. I don't need to be sitting there thinking: 'What would Gary do?' It's not a decision not to. It's just we don't have that relationship.'
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